BHUBANESWAR: A poetry book ‘Take Me To The Heart Of Beauty’ was launched by a young writer Shreya Banerjee, a resident of Hyderabad, here recently.
Speaking on the occasion, she stated that the book was a window to many worlds – big and small. The poet is a sensitive one who engages with life without fear or reserve. She read out several poetry pieces to keep the gathering riveted on the occasion.
Shreya transforms humdrum things like a dry leaf falling off a branch into compelling images and stories just as effortlessly as she draws us into dark and difficult yet strangely healing places – the mind of a person sinking into depression or a grieving heart.
Every once in a while, she brightens up the pages with delightful odes to life’s little miracles – sunshine, the sound of laughter and the magic of art among others. Published by Delhi-based Speaking Tiger Books and Bhubaneswar-based Walking BookFairs, the book holds extraordinary promise.
This book is now available for sale at bookstores across India. The Walking BookFairs Book Club also hosted the city’s first ever Book Swap at their April Book Club meet recently. Book lovers of the city were invited to bring any old book that they loved reading and swap/exchange it with another at the event. This is part of the bookstore’s initiative to promote reading books and visiting real bookstores among the city’s youth.
Independent Bookstore Day, which celebrates the importance of bookstores in our society, was also observed on the occasion. Walking BookFairs has been promoting reading and working on making books accessible to all. The club hosted various bookish activities to celebrate the day and drive home the fact that bookstores are community spaces for all which must be celebrated and supported.
One such activity was ‘Story Time’. Community members came together to share stories and connect with each other through books. It is essential for a healthy society to keep these human connections going, which, sadly are getting lost in the times of online shopping and social media.